tion of the American Chamber of Commerce for the Levant at Constantinople. RESULTS ATTAINED BY RUSSIAN DIVISION. The Russian division of the Bureau has naturally been handicapped in its activities by the disorganization and uncertainty prevailing throughout much of the territory with which it deals. Despite these disadvantages, however, something has been accomplished in this branch of the Bureau's work, and substantial aid has been given to American business men desiring to trade with those regions of the former Russian Empire where commercial transactions could safely be undertaken. The division covers the former Russian Empire, which at present is divided into Russia (European Russia, Siberia, the Caucasian Republics, the Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and Esthonia), Poland, and Finland. A circularizing of American firms at the end of June, 1921, brought replies from nearly 1,800 concerns that declared themselves interested in the Russian field. During the past fiscal year the Russian division of the Bureau handled more than 2,700 letters, incoming and outgoing, many of which required a large amount of research work. Nearly 4,000 reports and publications relating to this field were read, checked, commented on, or translated (if in Russian), and classified in such a manner that the fullest possible use might be made of them-by publication in Commerce Reports or the press or by their preparation as special circulars. This work is rendered exceptionally difficult by the fact that no item of incoming information can be definitely accepted as reliable without first being subjected to a rigid process of verification. Some of the articles prepared in the Russian division and published in Commerce Reports are: "Needs and resources of the Crimea." "The bristle industry of Russia," "Tungsten in Russia," "Possible developments in Russia's chemical industry and trade," "Furs and other raw materials," "Russian osmiridium and other platinum products," "Potential beet-sugar industry in Courland," "Latvian exports and imports," "Trade in Persian lambskins," and "Petroleum industry in prewar Russia." The expert in charge of the division prepared a comprehensive report (practically a handbook) on the Baltic Provinces, the gateway to Russia; this has 128 pages and was published as Supplement No. 16c to Commerce Reports. A translation of a detailed account of the industries of Soviet Russia during 1920 was begun toward the end of the fiscal year. The list of publications on Russia in the English language was revised and enlarged. Various circulars were prepared and sent to the firms on the "Russian mailing list." Informa tion sent in by Bureau representatives in Poland and the Baltic Provinces was digested by the division and submitted, in appropriate form, to the American business community. During the year the personnel of the division has consisted of only two persons, an expert and a stenographer, but arrangements have been made to increase the staff to meet the demands that will be made upon it during the coming year. DIVISION OF STATISTICS. The Bureau's division of statistics reports that the number of inquiries relating to commercial and other figures increased materially during the past year. The division furnishes all available statistics on each question submitted. Congressional consideration of the new tariff bill resulted in many inquiries for statistics from business concerns and Members of Congress. Tables showing imports from and exports to 30 principal countries of agricultural products during the last 10 years were compiled for the Ways and Means Committee. An advisory statistical committee, after an investigation of the methods of the Bureau of Customs Statistics, recommended that the procedure be changed so as to tabulate the reports for the Department of Commerce first, to be followed, after their completion, by the reports furnished to the collectors of each district. The new system began with the April reports. As a result it has been possible to furnish preliminary total values by the 9th and the reports of imports and exports by articles and countries by the 15th of the month. Beginning with April, 1921, the Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce has been issued in two parts. Part I, containing the main tables (imports and domestic exports by articles and principal countries), is issued around the 25th of the month following the one to which the figures pertain. Part II, containing total values by great groups, countries, and customs districts, foreign exports, merchandise in warehouse, commerce with noncontiguous territories, and other tables, is issued about 10 days later. The publication of the quarterly imports for consumption was discontinued with the quarter ended December, 1920, on account of inadequate appropriations. The compilation of coal carried over 14 principal railways was also discontinued. In view of approaching tariff revision, the annual statement of imports for consumption, published as Table 9 of Commerce and Navigation, was issued as a separate publication; through the efforts of congressional committees printing was rushed and it was ready for distribution on April 1. Trade of the United States with the World in 1918 and 1919, showing imports and exports for each country by articles, was issued as Miscellaneous Series No. 106. A similar monograph will be issued for 1920 and 1921. A number of reviews of significant features in the foreign-trade statistics were prepared for Commerce Reports, including a study of quantity increases in exports as compared with values; relation of foreign exchange rates to import values; effect of decreasing wholesale prices in the United States on our foreign trade; trade of the Virgin Islands in 1918 and 1919; and our foreign trade in 1920 in the terminology of the Brussels international statistical classification. The "special statistical service," inaugurated early in 1919, consists of furnishing to trade journals, commercial organizations, and business houses monthly statements showing, for certain articles, complete details of imports or exports by countries which it is not practicable to print in the Monthly Summary. This service has been accorded universal approval and the demand for its extension is much greater than the Bureau can supply. The revised import and export classifications prepared by an interdepartmental committee were approved by the Secretaries of the Treasury and of Commerce in September, 1920. Instead of the former alphabetical listing, there is in the new schedules a classification of articles under 10 great groups according to origin or use, these groups being further subdivided on the decimal system according to component material and degree of manufacture. For exports 1,243 and for imports 974 separate classes are provided, instead of 700 each as in the present schedules. Quantities in customary commercial units or in weight are required for all classes, in addition to values. Because of the lack of the requisite appropriation, the new classifications have not been made effective yet. It is planned to apply the new system to imports when the permanent tariff bill is enacted, and to make it effective for exports as soon as additional funds, needed for handling the increased work under the extended classification and for improvement of the statistical service, are provided. The plan for transferring the Bureau of Customs Statistics from the Treasury to the Commerce Department is dependent upon the decision of the Comptroller General of the United States regarding the power of the President to transfer the necessary appropriations or, if the Comptroller's decision is adverse, upon the enactment of a separate bill by Congress. ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND COMPILATION OF FOREIGN STATISTICS. The Bureau's research division has devoted the greater part of its time to answering individual inquiries with regard to the trade statistics of foreign countries. Numerous letters from business men indicate the great value of this service. It has also worked on statistical tables giving imports and exports of the chief countries of the world and the share of the United States therein; these cover gold and silver and about 75 basic foodstuffs and industrial raw materials for 1908, 1913, and the three latest available years. The division prepared, for publication in Commerce Reports, various statistical statements dealing with the trade of certain foreign countries in vegetable oils and vegetable-oil products. During the latter part of the fiscal year, the forty-third annual number of the Statistical Abstract of the United States was issued. A pamphlet entitled "Wholesale prices" had been issued annually since 1893, giving a record of weekly quotations. Copy for the 1920 pamphlet was prepared as usual, but its publication has been suspended because somewhat similar statistics are issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are in the files of the division elaborate studies of world trade in various commodities, but they have not yet been printed because of lack of funds. Among these statistical compilations may be mentioned those on cotton goods, motor vehicles and bicycles, horsedrawn vehicles, agricultural implements and machinery, paper and manufactures of paper, electrical goods and machinery, and drugs, dyes, and chemicals. The preparation of these has involved much time and effort, and it is felt that provision should be made for adding the figures for the latest available year and publishing them for the use of the persons interested in these lines. The research division has continued its work of bringing to the attention of American investment and development houses opportunities for foreign investment upon which reports have been submitted by American Government representatives abroad. It has also distributed to bankers special reports on fundamental economic and financial conditions in foreign countries. DIVISION OF FOREIGN TARIFFS. The fact that a new tariff measure has been in course of preparation in the American Congress has had a marked effect on the work of the Bureau's division of foreign tariffs. The division has prepared extensive compilations of rates of duty in foreign countries for the Committee on Ways and Means and for individual Senators and Representatives, among these being a statement of the rates of duty in 29 countries on all products included in the agricultural schedule of the United States tariff, with the rates converted into United. States currency. The publication in Commerce Reports of current notes on tariff changes was continued during the past year. It was deemed inadvisable, however, to publ ony tariff monographs, because of the |